Porgy and Bess
MusicalOperaRevivalBroadway
Opening Date
Mar 10, 1953
Closing Date
Nov 28, 1953
Performances
305
MusicalOperaRevivalBroadway
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Open Date: Mar 10, 1953
Close Date: Nov 28, 1953
Closed Flag: n
Is Final Week:
ABOUT THIS PRODUCTION
Description
An American folk opera in three acts
Setting
Charleston, South Carolina. The early 1930s. Catfish Row and Kittiwah Island.
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PeopleTheatre Owned / Operated by Billy RoseProduced by Blevins Davis and Robert BreenLibretto by DuBose Heyward; Music by George Gershwin; Lyrics by Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward; Based on the play "Porgy" by DuBose Heyward and Dorothy Heyward; Musical Director: Alexander Smallens; Assistant Musical Dir.: Samuel Matlovsky; Choral Director: Eva JessyeDirected by Robert BreenScenic Design by Wolfgang Roth; Costume Design by Jed MaceGeneral Manager: Ben BoyarAssistant to General Manager: Robert Dustin; National Press Representative: Bill Doll; Associate Press Representative: Robert Ullman; Promotions: Seymour Krawitz; West Coast Representative: Bill Watters; Master Carpenter: Lawrence BlandEnsembleCoronerSwing: Hugh DilworthUnderstudies: Joseph Attles (Crab Man, Sportin' Life), Irving Barnes (Porgy), James Hawthorne Bey (Mingo), Rhoda Boggs (Lily), Walter P. Brown (Crown), Miriam Burton (Serena), Helen Colbert (Bess), Charles Colman (Jake), Willis Daily (Detective), Helen Dowdy (Maria), Helen Ferguson (Annie), Elizabeth Foster (Bess), Kenneth Hibbert (Undertaker, Sportin' Life), George A. Royston (Peter), Delores Swan (Clara) and Barbara Ann Webb (Serena)
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Songsmusic by George Gershwin; lyrics by Ira GershwinAct 1Sung BySummertimeClaraA Woman Is a Sometime ThingJim, Jake, Sportin' Life and EnsembleThey Pass By SingingPorgyCrap Game FuguePorgyGone, Gone, GoneEnsembleOverflowEnsembleMy Man's Gone NowSerena and EnsembleLeavin' fo' de Promis' LanBess and EnsembleIt Takes a Long PullJim, Jake and EnsembleI Got Plenty O' Nuttin'PorgyWoman to LadyPorgy, Bess, Frazier and EnsembleBess, You Is My Woman NowPorgy and BessOh I Can't Sit DownEnsembleAct 2Sung ByI Ain't Got No ShameSportin' Life and EnsembleIt Ain't Necessarily SoSportin' Life and EnsembleWhat You Want With Bess?Crown and BessTime and Time AgainSerena and EnsembleStreet CriesStrawberry Woman and Crab ManI Loves You, PorgyPorgy and BessOh de Lawd Shake de HeavenEnsembleA Red Headed WomanCrown and EnsembleClara, Don't You Be DownheartedEnsembleThere's a Boat That's Leavin' Soon for New YorkSportin' Life and BessBuzzardPorgyWhere's My Bess?PorgyI'm On My WayPorgy and Ensemble
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Awards
Theatre Owned / Operated by Billy Rose
Produced by Blevins Davis and Robert Breen
Libretto by DuBose Heyward; Music by George Gershwin; Lyrics by Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward; Based on the play "Porgy" by DuBose Heyward and Dorothy Heyward; Musical Director: Alexander Smallens; Assistant Musical Dir.: Samuel Matlovsky; Choral Director: Eva Jessye
Directed by Robert Breen
Scenic Design by Wolfgang Roth; Costume Design by Jed Mace
General Manager: Ben Boyar
Assistant to General Manager: Robert Dustin; National Press Representative: Bill Doll; Associate Press Representative: Robert Ullman; Promotions: Seymour Krawitz; West Coast Representative: Bill Watters; Master Carpenter: Lawrence Bland
Ensemble
Coroner
Swing:
Hugh Dilworth
Understudies:
Joseph Attles
(Crab Man, Sportin' Life), Irving Barnes
(Porgy), James Hawthorne Bey
(Mingo), Rhoda Boggs
(Lily), Walter P. Brown
(Crown), Miriam Burton
(Serena), Helen Colbert
(Bess), Charles Colman
(Jake), Willis Daily
(Detective), Helen Dowdy
(Maria), Helen Ferguson
(Annie), Elizabeth Foster
(Bess), Kenneth Hibbert
(Undertaker, Sportin' Life), George A. Royston
(Peter), Delores Swan
(Clara) and Barbara Ann Webb
(Serena)
music by George Gershwin; lyrics by Ira Gershwin
Act 1
Sung By
Summertime
Clara
A Woman Is a Sometime Thing
Jim, Jake, Sportin' Life and Ensemble
They Pass By Singing
Porgy
Crap Game Fugue
Porgy
Gone, Gone, Gone
Ensemble
Overflow
Ensemble
My Man's Gone Now
Serena and Ensemble
Leavin' fo' de Promis' Lan
Bess and Ensemble
It Takes a Long Pull
Jim, Jake and Ensemble
I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'
Porgy
Woman to Lady
Porgy, Bess, Frazier and Ensemble
Bess, You Is My Woman Now
Porgy and Bess
Oh I Can't Sit Down
Ensemble
Act 2
Sung By
I Ain't Got No Shame
Sportin' Life and Ensemble
It Ain't Necessarily So
Sportin' Life and Ensemble
What You Want With Bess?
Crown and Bess
Time and Time Again
Serena and Ensemble
Street Cries
Strawberry Woman and Crab Man
I Loves You, Porgy
Porgy and Bess
Oh de Lawd Shake de Heaven
Ensemble
A Red Headed Woman
Crown and Ensemble
Clara, Don't You Be Downhearted
Ensemble
There's a Boat That's Leavin' Soon for New York
Sportin' Life and Bess
Buzzard
Porgy
Where's My Bess?
Porgy
I'm On My Way
Porgy and Ensemble
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